TOMBSTONE: THE LEGEND OF WYATT EARP Musical Opens at MITF Tonight, 7/21

The Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival presents TOMBSTONE: THE LEGEND OF WYATT EARP, a new rock musical with book, music and lyrics by Brandon Wood starting tonight, July 21st.

Teresa Fallon directs. Oliver Blatt is musical director. The cast includes John Ball, James Kivlen, Jeremy Lagunas, Taylor Lintelman, Eva Mastrangelo, James Parks, Don Sandeen, Amanda Serra, Will Schnurr, Christian Titus, RJ Woessner and Brandon Wood.

Although a drama that's rooted in the Old West, Tombstone: The Legend of Wyatt Earp unfolds upon a modern, nearly barren stage with passionate rock music driving its hero and the characters who surround him. Wyatt Earp, a man of integrity who's popular with the locals of Tombstone, is made deputy to corrupt sheriff, John Behan. Standing between Wyatt and Behan is Sadie, a beautiful former actress that falls for Wyatt the moment she sees him whom Behan likes to call his wife. When a couple of innocent men are murdered in a bank heist Wyatt directly threatens Behan's authority and takes it upon himself to bring the perpetrators to justice. Simultaneously, Wyatt's old friend Doc Holliday, who guards the secret of Wyatt's dark past, is freed from jail and joins him and his brothers on the manhunt. Wyatt and entourage find the criminals, but in the bloody aftermath he is charged with murder. Again confronted by moral dilemma, Wyatt Earp continues a quest to find his rightful place in society.

Librettist, rock composer and lyricist Brandon Wood is a graduate of Theatre Arts from Wilkes University where he wrote and produced The Death of Michael Corleone, an original interpretation of "The Godfather" trilogy. Working with ArtsPower National Touring Theatre, Brandon acted in productions of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Jigsaw Jones. He was seen on Theatre Row in the NYC premiere of Albert Camus' Caligula. Also a rock and roll musician who plays lead/rhythm guitar, he's written and performed his songs at a variety of venues including Lincoln Center's Bruno Walter Auditorium. Tombstone: The Legend of Wyatt Earp marks Brandon's first full length musical which contains an atypical rock score that's less musical theatre and more organic rock n' roll.

Teresa Fallon's work has been seen at such theatres as Circle in the Square, Studio Theatre in Washington D.C. and Syracuse Stage among others. She's been honored with the Tom Neiderkorn Award from the Hangar Theatre in Ithaca and currently is Director of Theatre at Wilkes University.

Oliver Blatt, musical director and arranger is an award winning composer who wrote the book, music and lyrics for The Book of Love. He was associate conductor and keyboard player on the national tour of Joesph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Associate Synthesizer Programmer and keyboard player on the national tour of The Who's Tommy.

Tombstone: The Legend of Wyatt Earp opens at the June Havoc Theatre in the Abingdon Theatre Complex (312 W. 36th Street, 1st Floor between 8th and 9th Avenues) on Saturday, July 21st. Festival performance schedule is as follows: Sat. July 21 at 4:30PM, Wed. July 25 at 6:45PM, Sat. July 28 at 9PM, Wed. Aug. 1 at 8:45PM and Thurs. Aug. 2 at 6:45 PM. Tickets are $18 and $15 for seniors/students. For tickets and more information visit www.midtownfestival.org or call 866 811-4111 .

The Midtown InterNational Theatre Festival's 2012 Season runs from now through August 5, 2012 at the June Havoc Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, 1st floor and the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre, 312 W. 36th Street, 1st floor, NYC. Tickets are $18-15 and are available at www.midtownfestival.org or by phone at 866-811-4111.

John Chatterton created the MITF in 2000, a midtown alternative to other theatre festivals, as a way to present the finest Off-Off Broadway talent in convenience, comfort, and safety. In 2003, the MITF moved its activities to their current location, the Theatre Building on W. 36th St., where it has been successfully ensconced since. The MITF's artistic emphasis is on the script itself, and therefore the Festival focuses on minimal production values

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